A little Hike through Nature...

We have some really great friends in our little Silver Creek Ward. We have been very blessed. And one family, the Turner's, organized a nice little family hike up to see the wild flowers...only one problem. with it being a little cool the last couple of weeks of February, they weren't quite out. But we still had fun. It was a gorgeous sunny day, and we had the opportunity to bask in the glory of nature. Nice to see a little beauty at the edge of a smog choked valley...

The one who stands alone...

Trying to pile ALL the kids on the rock.

8 adults + 13 kids (ages 9 to less than a year) + glorious day = 5 happy families!

A little picnic after our hike. Food is always the best part, right?!

Here's Cooper 'fishing'. He would hold his little stick out over the creek and the 'wind' his little hand around and around and then pull up his fish! I love little imaginations...

A little tree climbing after lunch...

Unfortunately, Dustin had to work, but me and my kiddos had alot of fun anyways.

I am so grateful for good friends. They have been a saving grace for me in particular, because I DON'T have family around. I used to rely on family for everything. And moving away, I have learned that GREAT friends can be a close second to family. We have our family, our relations....and we have our Bakersfield family. I'm going to miss them...

Night time with Coops

I really have a hard time staying mad with this kid...even if at times it should be easy enough to pack him up and ship him off. For instance, this is what happened last night:

He has been coming into our room once in a while, around 4 or 5 am and he falls asleep on the floor. He sleeps there because his mother is a selfish person and cannot sleep with Littles in the bed. So she puts a blanket and pillow on the floor fo him to sleep on. This doesn't bather me too much, once in a while. Brody used to do it too. But lately its been happening alot, and not just at 4 or 5, like 1 or 2. I decided since Dustin had some time off, we would resolve the problem. Take him to bed EVERY time he gets up. Shouldn't be too hard, right?

So the first time is 3 am. "mommy I can't find Sue." At first I tried to ignore him because its REALLY hard for me to wake up. I like my sleep. But I get up and take him to bed and find Sue. About 10 minutes later, he shows up again. This goes on for about 90 minutes, him coming in every 10 - 15 minutes and Mommy getting progressively madder and madder. Finally I am very frustrated and sadly take it out on him.

I swatted his little bottom and firmly said "You need to sleep in your bed. Stay in bed or you'll get a spanken."

He is all teary and says "Mommy."

"What, Cooper."

"Mommy."

What?"

"Mommy."

"WHAT?!"

"I need kiss."

Man, you feel like a real crud ball after that.

So, he gets his kiss and hug and says "Love you, too, Mom."

"Love you, Cooper."

I get into bed, waiting for him to get out again. Its quiet. 10 minutes. 15.

"Yes!" I think to myself and start to lull myself back to sleep. By this time its 5 am. I think maybe I should just get up, but I slowly fall back to sleep. Just about there...

"Hey GUYS!! Come here! Hay Hay on my bed!"

Oh boy...

I think I left part of my Heart in San Francisco...

I have ALWAYS wanted to go to San Fran. Not really sure why. There's just always been a part of me that has felt a pull by the city. Probably the part that is fascinated with history and loves old buildings and great architecture. And probably a part that has seen it in so many movies and tv shows that you just have to see some of those things for yourself.

Things like this bridge...

Oh, I have wanted to see this bridge for so long! I was worried with the weather if we would see it at all...San Fran gets some pretty bad fog, and I think I am slightly cursed when it comes to seeing Great and Momentous things and having them covered in fog.

Another day I'll explain about how I've been to Mount Rushmore, but never seen it...

but for now...

I got to drive over the bridge!!

And had my picture taken in front of it!!

Since the weather wasn't great we went to the Exploratorium. A hands-on Science Center. We didn't have alot of time in there. But I think if you did, you could spend all day in there!

And if you get thirsty, there's great water fountains...

I had Dustin drive past Lombard and we ended up driving DOWN it.

Crazy hills in San Francisco.

It was tuff in the rain, if it ever snowed there, they would be in deep cau-cau.

The next day was GORGEOUS...well, a little chilly, but SUNNY!! We decided to go on a little Bay cruise to the bridge and around Alcatraz.

They wouldn't take my kids...

Heading under the bridge...

Of, course we had to see the Sea Lions of Pier 39...so many just soaking up the sun...

Since the sun was out, so were the people...it was quite crowded, but again, old buildings fascinate me and I thought it was so neat.

The Famous Trolley cars! We didn't go on one...too bad. But we did hop on a bus tour around town...

And it took us out to the bridge again! That's Gracie standing by an example of one of the cables used to build the bridge...its made up of hundreds of little cables on the inside so the bridge is flexible. They say it moves up to 27 feet in bad wind....would you drive on that in the wind?!

Ah a Sunny picture in front of the Golden Gate!

Remember Full House?! These are the painted Sisters...one of them is the Full House House.

I can't remember which one.

There are so many of these cute Victorian type houses throughout the city.

Honestly, everything is built RIGHTNEXTTOEACHOTHER.

So beautiful, but I don't think I could live without the yard space.

Or park on some of those hills...

We went to this little wax museum, twice. The first time because it was rainy and cold, the second because the kids thought it was so cool. Here's Gracie pretending to do the Pledge of Allegiance because President Lincoln is behind her.

I tried to explain that she wouldn't have to do that next year because she was going to school in Canada, but she didn't quite get it.

The last day we went back to Monterey and went Whale Watching. I was very excited to think I would see one of those great Giants of the deep. And to be out on that water and see how blue and deep it was. Just water for miles and miles...and not too many waves...

At least it doesn't seem like it when you are looking.

But standing on that little vessel, you feel it.

Everyone of them.

Every single one.

Needless to say, I don't think our family is meant to be at Sea.

We did get to see a whale though...

A beautiful day in Monterey checking out the quaint little Fisherman's Wharf, where we had some of the best Clam Chowder ever!

We will probably never go back...I have too many other places I want to see in my lifetime.

But I am SOOO HAPPY I was able to go.

Just to see that bridge.

It is amazing to think of the equipment they didn't have when that was built and yet it was, and still standing today. An amazing and beautiful example of human engineering and imagination.

Breathtaking...

Heading to San Fran!

I will definitely have to make a couple of posts here to share our whole weekend with you. It was SOOO FUN!! I have always wanted to go to San Francisco. Don't ask me why. Just one of many that I have always wanted to see. So since we were moving, and have yet to make it up there, we decided to go and see the City by the Bay...

We started out going to Monterey. I thought it would be fun to drive up the Pacific Coast Highway, just this once, because we had never done it....not good. It rained, it was dark and you couldn't see anything, and those signs that say Rock Slide area? Ya, they were right. Lots of rocks and mud on the tiny narrow road. Add this to the fact that it twists and turns and I get carsick. Not a fun trip. We had almost turned back just before the PCH because of the fog and rain, but pressed on because it started to clear up. And I'm kind of glad we did, because we got to see these...

That is a beach covered in Elephant Seals. Hundreds of them! And they were so loud! That was kind of cool. The males are really big and UGLY! Big ol' snout hanging on them. But the females and little ones were cute. So this was a big bonus of driving up a dark twisty road through the rain.

It rained nice and hard in Monterey. We decided to hit the Aquarium. Now we've been to Sea World, and we've been to the Long Beach Aquarium and a couple of smaller ones, so I was a little worried about what to do with the rest of our day. I mean, how long could it take?

Answer: 6 hours. And that didn't include any of the touch pools and the kids were kind of mad we had to leave! There was so much for them to do. Coloring, dress up, water activities and the fish. Lots of Fish. All sizes and shapes.

Here's my little school of fish...what a bunch of goofs!

It was really neat, and then we walked down Cannery Row. Back in the day, Monterey was a big Fish Canning place. Lots of Canneries lined the Bay. But then the market dropped and they closed. Now they have been refurbished into shops, restaurants, and the Aquarium! It is actually an old Sardine Cannery they made into the Aquarium. I love old stuff like that. I love walking around and seeing the history. It was really a cool place to see, quick, but cool.

Next up, SAN FRANCISCO!!

Things Heard at our House...

"Me a bad guy..you a lombie! I thoot you" Followed by gun noises.

- Coops

"Mom, I need to watch the news to see a genealogist."

"A geneaologist? What?"

"Ya I need a name of a geneaologist for school. The guy that predicts the weather."

-Brody

"Whereths my Thue? Can't find my Thue!"

-Cooper, he has a little lisp...

"Justin Bieber?! Ooh gross! I'm like the only girl at my school who doesn't like him. They all wear shirts with him on it. Its so gross!"

-Gracie, oh I'm so GLAD!!

"Mom, I'm full."

"Ok, so I guess you don't want dessert."

"Well, I'm not too full for that!"

-Brody, will he ever be truly full?

"Wath thith guyths!"

-Coops, as he jumps off furniture, runs fast, does a 'trick'...

Never a dull moment...